Honoring our nurses

May 31, 2014

Each year, the March of Dimes encourages patients, families and colleagues to nominate area nurses for a special award program. Nurse of the Year celebrates nursing excellence and recognizes leaders in nursing from across the state.

In the Marshall area, patients have nominated outstanding nurses from Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center. One patient described her nurse as more than just a physical care giver. This patient said her nurse "made sure that I was very well cared for at all times even when she wasn't there. I have never felt the love and support from a nurse like I did with her. She really made me feel comfortable, like I was part of her own family."

It's truly amazing what nurses do for our community. Now is the time to give back and honor them with a Nurse of the Year nomination. From neonatal and pediatric care, to rural health and advance practice, these awards recognize the contribution that registered nurses are making in Minnesota and help fund the mission of the March of Dimes to improve the health of babies.

The March of Dimes is accepting nominations from patients, friends, families and colleagues of nurses from across the state now through July 1. Nurses will be honored at a gala dinner Oct. 25 at the Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Center.

The purpose of the event is to raise public awareness of and interest in the diverse and rewarding careers available to registered nurses.

Dating back to the polio era, nurses have played a critical role in advancing the mission of the March of Dimes; 40,000 nurses volunteered for the Salk polio vaccine field trials in 1954, the largest medical investigation of its kind ever conducted.

Today, nurses serve as volunteers, fundraisers and advisers to the March of Dimes. Nurses are critical to our mission of improving the health of babies - and are key in comforting families.

Say thank you to the thousands of Minnesota nurses who work tirelessly to help others.

Complete details and nomination forms are available by visiting marchofdimes.com/minnesota.